Social influences

Question 1

What is a social influence?

Answer 1

• Real or imagined pressure to change one’s behavior, attitude, or beliefs
• Social influence can have negative effects or positive effects.

Question 2

What is legitimate power?

Answer 2

Based on one’s socially sanctioned claim to a position/role that gives him/her the right to require and demand compliance.

Question 3

What is expert power?

Answer 3

Derived from subordinates’ assumption that the powerholder possesses superior skills and abilities.

Question 4

What is reward power?

Answer 4

Having control over the distribution of rewards given to individuals.

Question 5

What coercive power?

Answer 5

Having the ability to punish/threaten others who don’t comply with requests/demands.

Question 6

What referent power?

Answer 6

Based on one’s identification with, attraction to, or respect for the powerholder.

Question 7

What is Milgram’s Obedience Ecperiements?

Answer 7

• Looked at obedience toward authority
• 65% of participants delivered
  the maximum shock
  - Why?
• Replications of experiment with modifications (e.g., experimenter gave instructions over phone instead of face-to-face) usually resulted in somewhat lower compliance
  …but 30% still delivered maximum shock

Question 8

What is social support?

Answer 8

• Refers to the perceived comfort, caring, assistance, and information that a person receives from others.
• Important to consider:
  
  • The size of one’s social network.
  • The amount of social support provided.
  • The type of social support provided.

Question 9

What is instrumental support?

Answer 9

• Includes tangible, practical assistance that will help a person achieve goals

Question 10

What is emotional support?

Answer 10

• Occurs through expressions of encouragement, caring, empathy, concern toward a person
• Can increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety

Question 11

What is informational support?

Answer 11

• Includes giving directions, advice, or suggestions, and providing feedback regarding progress

Question 12

What is companionship support?

Answer 12

• Reflects the availability of persons within one’s social network
• Produces positive affect and can distract people from negative exercise-related feelings (e.g., fatigue,
  boredom)

Question 13

What is validation?

Answer 13

• Involves comparing oneself with others in order to gauge progress and confirm that one’s thoughts, feelings, problems, and experiences are normal

Question 14

What is social power in the family?

Answer 14

• Pressuring family members to be more active can lead to decreased physical activity
• Making family members feel guilty for their inactivity can lead to decreased physical activity

Question 15

What are rewards?

Answer 15

• Can be a powerful determinant of action
• Examples:
  
  • Incentives or rewards for attendance to exercise program (e.g., t-shirts, money)
  • Employers paying part of exercise program cost
• Seems to encourage initial attendance or adherence, but not effective in the long-term
  
  • Additional incentives or rewards must be provided over time to encourage long-term adherence

Question 16

What is Social support from family?

Answer 16

• Increases exercise intentions and exercise adherence
• Among children and youth, social support from parents and other family members are one of the most important determinants of physical activity
  
  • Instrumental support (e.g., providing transportation)
  • Emotional support (e.g., encouragement)
  • Informational support (e.g., instruction on new activities).
  • Companionship support (e.g., participating)

Question 17

What is social support from important others?

Answer 17

• Positively related to physical activity and adherence to structured exercise programs

Question 18

What is social support from professionals in exercise environments?

Answer 18

• Important for continued participation in exercise program
• Provide multiple types of social support
• Leadership style is key!
  - Socially supportive vs. socially bland
  - Socially supportive associated with individuals having more energy and enthusiasm, less fatigue, more enjoyment, stronger exercise intentions